Another milestone I've been working on is that 5:00 mile benchmark and a week later came the CRC Mile Dash again. If memory serves, my best mile in high school was 4:41. I doubt I will be reaching that anytime soon, but it would be fun to see how close I could get. Here we would start on Liggett Road before turning on Perimeter Drive and finish back at CRC's Dublin location in Avery Square - a flat, fast course. I can get in a 5:20 to 5:30 mile by myself, but running with a group of folks who have a faster pace and are more used to running a sub five mile would be of great assistance.

This, of course, would require being prepared for the all out effort in order to complete this mission and not crash somewhere in the middle. I would be joining Traffic Panther Teammate Gary in this quest. Last year, Gary was just short of that elusive 5-minute mark. Maybe this year, a team effort could push the both of us over the top.

Here's how Columbus Running Company describes the event: We're closing out year number fifteen for the CRC, and it's time to party! This celebration is as much about you as it is the CRC, so we hope you can join us. Be sure to sign up for the proper heat based on your age (elite runners in the first heat, youth in The Donut Experiment Kids Dash, and 6:00-minute mile pace and slower in the third). This will help us keep the evening moving quickly. July 13th

Having spent this year the working on speed with the CRC Tuesday Night Track folks, the training is there. What needs work are the focus and day-of mental capacity for an all-out mile. Funny, a look at last year's results show Gary, fellow CRC-Westerville Teammates John & Seth and I finished within eight seconds of one another. We'd like to lessen that gap, not to mention move up in the standings a bit. I was 37th and 6th in my age group in 2018.

I had to work on this day so I left Marion about 3pm and drove the hour or so down just in time to grab my bib number from L, who went down early to pick it up, loosen up some and jet to the start line. Just like the year before, we had a sunny drenched clear sky and temperature around 90. To make the event a bit less crowded, they decided to separate the men's & women's races with the men going first. As the start time moved closer, all of us were packed like sardines and I believe the sardines would have smelled a bit better. Imagine 90 dudes in singlets standing in a close knit crowd outside in full sun and perspiring a river. Before I began to gag & dry-heave, thankfully, the countdown began.

Along with several CRC Westerville Teammates, we take off and right then John takes off like he's been shot out of a cannon. I couldn't help but think I was going too slow, but John was just going faster then we expected. It was a little rough the first quarter mile before everyone began to separate. Finding a clear lane to navigate was less than stellar.

As we began to thin out I'm ignoring my surroundings and focusing more on my mechanics. Running, essentially, a distance sprint isn't something I've made a habit of doing since college. I'm used to glancing at my watch for mile splits, but other than starting it I'm paying no attention whatsoever. Having made it onto Perimeter Drive, I'm holding steady as there isn't much movement in regard to passing and being passed.

Right then I hear a spectator bellow, "Let's Go Gary! Just a quarter mile to go!" Thinking that has to be Gary, my teammate, I glance to my right and sure enough it is - though at the same time what the well-wisher said quickly sinks in. A quarter mile?! - My eyes dart forward and holy crap, there it is- the finish! It's amazing at how fast things go by when you are used to running longer, more endurance focused races.

At that moment I crank up the pace, ignoring the feeling that I may be kicking a bit yearly, and pull in behind Gary. We are weaving in and around folks, picking off the slower (or slowing) competitors. My lungs are on fire and, like those high school mile races of yore, I can no longer feel my legs. I'm moving them, but they are numb and rubber-like. The finish I didn't have in me last year, is now at full throttle.

A few faster folks are staying just ahead, but like a predator you notice those you are gaining on and use them as your motivation to push beyond what you feel you can do. One of these is a high schooler dressed as his school's mascot (there were several in the race) and we are at about 100 meters to go. I can only feel what I would describe as a "fuzziness" in my legs, similar to the after effect of a pinched nerve. Thinking I'll be damned if I lose to this kid wearing what looks to be a devil costume, I pull even with Gary and we pass on opposite sides of the teen and we hit the finish at nearly the same time.

I stop my watch and stick out my hands to catch myself and to dodge other finishers who have come to an abrupt stop. Near hyperventilation, I struggle to grab water from a race volunteer and slowly begin putting out the inferno taking place in my chest. Sucking air, I glance to my wrist and I see 4:52.3 - no freakin' way, I obliterated that 5:00 mark monstrosity! I drift over to Gary, who is also searching for oxygen, and we congratulate one another. Teammates John, Marcus, Gary and I ending up finishing within two seconds of one another with John and Marcus just ahead us.

Upon further investigation, Gary discovered that he and I had finished with the exact official time of 4:53.7. Though, Gary was less than enthused that the results placed me ahead of him despite our identical times. Thus, some good-natured ribbing ensued. Overall, I finished 34th and third in my age group with the overall winner coming in at 4:18. We (Gary, his wife Holly, L and I) decided to celebrate by visiting nearby Random Precision Brewing, an all wild and sour beer brewery.

While there, two women were at a table diagonal from us. I could see them glance in our direction every so often, but largely paid no attention to them. Moments later as they headed for the door they asked Jason (the owner/brewer) if they needed to bus their own table. He let them know he would do it and thanked them for their time, but once they made it out the door you notice their table consisted of two full flights beers and few singles still sitting there largely untouched. A few were obviously still just as full as they were when poured. I'm confused, horrified and disgusted as twelve 4.5 ounce pours are about to be poured down the drain.

I look back to the bar and see Jason headed walking our way with a look of disappointment. He turns towards us, "This hurts my heart."

"Did they not know what they were ordering?", I asked.

"They said they wanted to try all of our sours"
At about this time the Uber they called for picked them up from the parking lot.

"On their behalf, I want to apologize for that ridiculousness", I said to Jason as he goes about trashing samples of his excellent work.

We ordered, and ate, food from the pizza place across the street before the four of us decided to go bowling. Just as we headed out Jason hands me some logoed glassware, "We follow each other on Twitter & Instagram," he says, "I appreciate the support." Awesome, Jason is a cool dude and his brewery is quite excellent. I recommend a stop the next time you find yourself in Columbus. Despite what took place Saturday late afternoon, his beer is a must try. It made destroying the mile that much more satisfying.

So, the electric blanket-like humidity of Ohio summer is going strong and, similar to the summers of yore, we are dragging along as L and I attempt to cover all the bases leading up to our late August officialdom (not to mention a half marathon in Akron - the Goodyear Half Marathon on Aug. 10th - to break things up a bit...and sweat a little). Under six weeks away and you know you are definitely an adult when one of the wedding gifts is the addition of a second refrigerator which has been placed in our basement and is now harboring our wedding beer. It arrived last week and I check on it everyday as if it were a child or new pet - Oh, the possibilities!

The closer the big day gets, the further away it all seems...a union during the hottest month of the year in the midst of what has felt like a season of solar flare eruptions...phew...

😎...refreshments, anyone?

Remo Drive - "Around the Sun"

I awoke in the cleanest bed sheets on earth
In the dreaded morning the air felt like a curse
Behind the counter with the drawer we organize the bills
In the early of the morning, took the car for a fill

What’s the date? I can’t remember.
It all just blends together
Spinning around the sun until we burn up.

In the lines between traffic, familiar and clean.
In the hands of the headrest, I nearly fell asleep.
Constant push of conditioned air dries my face and skin.
I got distracted just chewing on my pen.
I took the ink all in.

What’s the date? I can’t remember.
It all just blends together
Spinning around the sun until we burn up.

You wouldn’t survive without dependence on something
Drinks or big cigars
Drugs prescribed or self-sought
You wouldn’t survive without a way to pass the time
Clothes or antique cars
Songs once heard then forgot

What’s the date? I can’t remember.
It all just blends together

Spinning around the sun until we burn up.